Differences in characteristics, aetiologies, isolated pathogens, and the efficacy of antibiotics in adult patients with preseptal cellulitis and orbital cellulitis between 2000-2009 and 2010-2019.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To understand whether the epidemiology, aetiologies, common pathogens and the antibiotic efficacy against the identified bacteria of periorbital cellulitis in adults have changed recently (2010-2019) compared with the past decade (2000-2009). METHODS: Adult patients (n=224) diagnosed with preseptal cellulitis and orbital cellulitis admitted to Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital during 2000-2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics, isolated pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility tests against the commonly cultured bacteria were analysed. RESULTS: Preseptal cellulitis showed a tendency of female predominance. Patients in their 60s showed an incidence peak; more cases were observed during winter. The most common predisposing factor was dacryocystitis (15.5%-30.5%), followed by hordeolum (15.5%-24.8%). Aetiology of sinusitis (p=0.001) decreased and that of conjunctivitis (p=0.007) increased significantly with time. Culture results of nasopharyngeal swabs and local abscess showed higher positivity rate than conjunctival swab. The most common isolates were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotics including fluoroquinolones and vancomycin were effective; in contrast, ampicillin/sulbactam and oxacillin showed decreasing efficacy against gram-positive bacteria. For antibiotic treatment against P. aeruginosa, fluoroquinolones, ceftazidime, piperacillin and imipenem were ideal choices. CONCLUSION: In isolated pathogens, the increasing trend of methicillin-resistant S. aureus detection was compatible with reducing oxacillin efficacy against periorbital infection. In our study, the report of antibiotic efficacy against the most common identified bacteria offered empirical choices for hospitalised patients with periorbital infection before obtaining culture results.

Antibiotic Choices for Pediatric Periorbital Cellulitis-A 20-Year Retrospective Study from Taiwan.

The delayed treatment of pediatric periorbital cellulitis may have severe consequences. In addition, the antibiotic efficacy against causative bacteria may change over time, and it is important to understand the appropriate antibiotic options for effective treatment in pediatric patients. We compared the changes in cultured bacteria and drug susceptibility tests between two decades, 2010-2019 and 2000-2009, to establish antibiotics for empirical use. The patient characteristics, etiologies, culture sites, and isolated bacteria, and the antibiotic susceptibility tests of the admitted pediatric patients (n = 207) diagnosed with preseptal and orbital cellulitis during 2000 to 2019, were recorded. Insect/animal bites (p = 0.084) showed an increasing trend, and sinusitis (p = 0.016) showed a significant decrease in the past decades. The most common bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections increased in recent decades (p = 0.01). Moreover, we found that vancomycin was ideal for MRSA infections. The decreasing efficacy of oxacillin correlates with the increasing proportion of MRSA in pediatric periorbital cellulitis. Our study thus offers antibiotic choices against the most common isolates that can be administered before culture results are available.

Therapeutic Effect of α-MSH in Primary Cultured Orbital Fibroblasts Obtained from Patients with Thyroid Eye Disease.

Inflammation, hyaluronan production, and adipogenesis are the main pathological events leading to thyroid eye disease (TED). α-Melanocytemelanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a well-known tridecapeptidetreatment for several inflammatory disorders including sepsis syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and encephalitis. Here, we investigated the effect of α-MSH treatment on TED. The 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) assays were performed to analyze the effect of α-MSH on cell viability and it's toxicity. Using primary cultures of orbital fibroblasts from TED patients and non-TED as control, we examined the effects of α-MSH on proinflammatory cytokine production induced by interleukin (IL)-1ß, further analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining assay and qPCR were performed to examine proopiomelanocortin (POMC) expression, the upstream neuropeptide of α-MSH in TED patients and non-TED control. Treatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations of α-MSH resulted in the dose-dependent inhibition of mRNA and protein levels (p < 0.05) for IL-1ß-induced inflammatory cytokines: IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and COX-2. The expression of POMC mRNA and protein were significantly higher in TED patients compared to non-TED control (p < 0.05). Our data show significant inhibitory effects of α-MSH on inflammation, POMC production in orbital fibroblasts. At present, this is the first in vitro preclinical evidence of α-MSH therapeutic effect on TED. These findings indicate that POMC and α-MSH may play a role in the immune regulation of TED and can be a potential therapeutic target.

Epidemiology of benign essential blepharospasm: A nationwide population-based retrospective study in Taiwan.

IMPORTANCE: This study provides a nationwide, population-based data on the incidence of benign essential blepharospasm in Asian adults. BACKGROUND: To describe the incidence, patient demographics, and risk factors associated with benign essential blepharospasm. DESIGN: Population-based retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS AND SAMPLES: A total of 1325 patients with benign essential blepharospasm were identified. METHODS: Patients with diagnosis of blepharopsasm between January 2000 and December 2013 were sampled using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Secondary blepharospasm that may be related to neurological, trauma, and ocular surface disease were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURED: Multivariate conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios for potential risk factors of benign essential blepharospasm. RESULTS: The mean annual incidence was 0.10‰ (0.07‰ for males, and 0.12‰ for females). The peak incidence was in the 50 to 59-year-old age group (0.19‰). People living in urban regions have more risk of developing blepharospasm comparing to people living in less urban regions (p <0.01). White-collar workers also have higher chance of having blepharospasm (p<0.001). Significant difference between control group and case group in hyperlipidemia (p <0.001), sleep disorders (p <0.001), mental disorders (depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder) (p <0.001), dry eye-related diseases (dry eye, Sjögren's syndrome) (p <0.001), Parkinson's disease (p <0.004), and rosacea (p <0.021) were also identified. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Higher level of urbanization, white-collar work, sleep disorders, mental health diseases, dry eye-related diseases, Parkinsonism, and rosacea are possible risk factors for benign essential blepharospasm.

Factors related to amblyopia in congenital ptosis after frontalis sling surgery.

BACKGROUND: Amblyopia is a main concern in children undergoing frontalis sling surgery for repairing congenital ptosis. This study aimed to evaluate factors related to amblyopia in children undergoing frontalis sling surgery. METHODS: IRB-approved retrospective review of children under the age of 12 who received frontalis sling surgery. Preoperative demographic data, strabismus, margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1), lid fissure height, sling type, refraction errors, surgical outcome and amblyopia were evaluated. RESULTS: This study included 48 eyelid procedures performed in 38 patients. Median age was 4.0 years. Etiology was congenital ptosis in 42 eyes (87.5%) and blepharophimosis in 6 eyes (12.5%). Mersilene mesh was the sling material used in 36 eyes (75%), silicone in 6 eyes (12.5%), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 6 eyes (12.5%). Mean duration of follow-up was 27.8 ± 25.0 months (range, 3 to 128 months). Amblyopia was observed in 17 eyes (35.4%) at the final follow-up. Factors significantly associated with final amblyopia included blepharophimosis (p = 0.017), preoperative MRD1 ≤ - 1.0 mm (p = 0.038), preoperative lid fissure ≤4.5 mm (p = 0.035), preoperative anisometropia (spherical equivalent) (p = 0.011), and postoperative astigmatism (p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Study results suggest that blepharophimosis, preoperative MRD1 ≤ - 1.0 mm, preoperative lid fissure ≤4.5 mm, preoperative anisometropia (spherical equivalent), and postoperative astigmatism are associated with amblyopia after frontalis sling surgery in patients with congenital ptosis.

Inhibition of Experimental Choroidal Neovascularization by a Novel Peptide Derived from Calreticulin Anti-Angiogenic Domain.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a key pathological feature of several leading causes of vision loss including neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Here, we show that a calreticulin anti-angiogenic domain (CAD)-like peptide 27, CAD27, inhibited in vitro angiogenic activities, including tube formation, migration of endothelial cells, and vascular sprouting from rat aortic ring explants. In a rat model of laser-induced CNV, we demonstrate that intravitreal injection of CAD27 significantly attenuated the formation of CNV lesions as measured via fundus fluorescein angiography and choroid flat-mounts (19.5% and 22.4% reductions at 10 µg and 20 µg of CAD27 injected, respectively). Similarly, the reduction of CNV lesions was observed in rats that had received topical applications of CAD27 (choroid flat-mounts: 17.9% and 32.5% reductions at 10 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL of CAD27 instilled, respectively). Retinal function was unaffected, as measured using electroretinography in both groups receiving interareal injection or topical applications of CAD27 for at least fourteen days. These findings show that CAD27 can be used as a potential therapeutic alternative for targeting CNV in diseases such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Gene Delivery by Subconjunctival Injection of Adenovirus in Rats: A Study of Local Distribution, Transgene Duration and Safety.

Subconjunctival injection is a minimally invasive route for gene delivery to ocular tissues, but has traditionally been limited to use in the cornea. The accurate ocular distribution of virus has not, however, been previously investigated. Adenovirus is an attractive gene vector as it can deliver large genes and allow for short-term gene expression, but how safe it is when delivered via subconjunctival injection remains to be established. We have characterized the bio-distribution and safety of subconjunctivally administered adenovirus in Brown Norway rats. The bio-distribution and transgene duration of adenovirus carrying luciferase gene (Ad-Luci) at various time intervals were evaluated via bioluminescence imaging after subconjunctival injection. Adenovirus carrying a reporter gene, ß-galactosidase (Ad-LacZ) or hrGFP (Ad-hrGFP) was administered subconjunctivally and the viral distribution in various ocular tissues was assessed by histological analysis and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Hepatic damage was assessed by biochemical and immunohistological analysis with TUNEL stain. Systemic immunogenicity was assessed by measuring serum level of TNF-α via ELISA, 2 hours and 14 days after administration of adenovirus. Retinal function was examined by electroretinography. Subconjunctival injection of Ad-Luci induced luciferase expression in the injected eyes within 24 hours, for at least 64 days. Histological analysis showed adenovirus distributed across anterior and posterior ocular tissues. qPCR demonstrated different amounts of adenovirus in different ocular tissues, with the highest amounts closest to the injection site Unlike the intravenous route, subconjunctivally delivered adenovirus did not elicit any detectable hepatic injury or systemic immunogenicity. Retinal function was unaffected by adenovirus irrespective of administration route. In conclusion, an adenoviral vector administered subconjunctivally can infiltrate into different ocular tissues and lead to short-term ocular transgene expression, without causing hepatic injury and immune activation. Therefore, subconjunctivally administered adenovirus may be a promising gene delivery approach for managing anterior and posterior segment eye diseases requiring short-term therapy.